Alphasat Technology Demonstration Payloads

Alphasat

Alphasat is a test satellite to demonstrate and validate the new Alphabus generation of telecommunication satellite platforms being developed with industry. Also known as Inmarsat 1-XL, Alphasat is a joint project by ESA (through its ARTES 8 programme), Inmarsat and the French space agency CNES.

ESA’s contributions to Alphasat include a quartet of non-operational Technology Demonstration Payloads, forming 15% of its overall payload. Final selection came after several technology studies and preliminary accommodation activities, with the following payloads selected:

An advanced laser communications terminal to link from geostationary to low-Earth orbit, contributed by German space agency DLR with Tesat-Spacecom

A Q-V band communications experiment to assess the feasibility of these unexploited bands for future commercial applications, overseen by Space Engineering S.p.A.

An environmental effects facility to monitor the geostationary radiation environment and its effects on electronic components and sensors. This Alphasat Environment and Effects Facility (AEEF) is the work of a consortium led by RUAG Space Switzerland (formerly Oerlikon Space).